Tony Iommi decided to downtune his guitar in order to relieve the pain on his fingers and the result of Sabbath's third album is simply stunning. Focusing on heavy guitar riffing and on the usual negative themes, the band finally refines their ultra heavy Blues-Rock formula and delivers a Stoner/Doom masterpiece. With songs such as "Sweat Leaf", "Lord Of This World", "Children Of The Grave", "Solitude" and the groundbreaking "Into The Void", this album can be considered as Sabbath's crown jewel, their best effort ever. And let's face it, with this album Sabbath created the Stoner/Doom genre. It is not surprising that many future bands covered their songs as a tribute, or used this kind of sound to deify the side effects of marijuana.

Led Zeppelin's second album, Black Sabbath's Paranoid, and Deep Purple's Machine Head have stood the test of time as the Holy Trinity of English hard rock and heavy metal, serving as the fundamental blueprints followed by virtually every heavy rock & roll band since the early '70s.

If it wasn't for Black Sabbath's S/T record, "In Rock" would claim it's rightful place as the truly first album that gave birth to Heavy Metal. Palm muted power chords, screaming bluesy solos, pick slides, high pitched vocals, this album had all the ingredients. After recording 3 albums, Deep Purple made a turnaround in their music which resulted in one of the best Rock albums of all time. Highly influential and essential to any musical collection, this monumental record is believed by some to be the finest moment in Deep Purple's career, surpassing even "Machine Head". I really can't blame those who choose this album over "Machine Head".

Quite possibly the greatest metal album of all time. Metallica were on the top of their career after they released this flawless masterpiece. 50 minutes of great music and 8 killer songs. The Thing That Should Not Be is a little bit repeated but nonetheless is great. Master of Puppets is easily Metallica's best album, although my favorite is their previous one.

After giving birth to Thrash with their revolutionizing debut, Metallica recorded Ride
the Lightning, an album that was even more stunning. In every possible way. Their second
album would affect countless metal acts and many people today tend to believe that RTL is
the band's magnum opus. However, the best was yet to come.

An excellent mix of experimental psychedelia and cacophonous noise. A truly unique album
that pioneered a number of styles in music. There will never be another album like this
one, for better or worse.

What Jimi Hendrix and Sabbath did in the late 60's and early 70's respectively, Van Halen did
again in 1978 with this classic debut. Eddie Van Halen took an established formula and rewrote the
rules of the electric guitar. Nobody was prepared for the electric onslaught this man released and
nobody could predict that an electric guitar could be played like that.

An awe-inspiring album, Close to the Edge is a monumental record, a monolith of classic Prog Rock.
You like experimental music ? You like Prog Rock ? Then, chances are that you have heard this
album. But in case you haven't, check it now. You're still there ? wtf are you waiting for ?

Slow and painfully heavy, Forest of Equilibrium is Cathedral's ultimate Doom Metal offer. Lee Dorian left Napalm Death to form a band that will follow in Sabbath's footsteps and the result of their debut recording is simply stunning. "Forest" is full of dark, nihilistic, mesmerizing riffs, and majestic solos. The only problem seems to be the poor production, but apart from that, this record is an essential release that will satisfy all doomsters.

Just like drugs, all of the acid-drenched stoner rock in the early 21st century can become a bit
of a drag. Earthless's music literally soaks the listener into a sonic maelstrom of inspiration
and free flowing, molten, deeply emotional energy. Personally, their music is the best wankery
I've ever heard.

Mother Earth is pregnant for the third time, for y'all have knocked her up. I have tasted the
maggots in the mind of the universe. I was not offended. For I knew I had to rise above it all or
drown in my own shit.

The hand has five fingers, capable and powerful, with the ability to destroy as well as create. We have the power to stop and reverse the tides of time by making our awareness of abuse known to the powers of industry and their uncouth political arms. Only by raising this awareness and promoting personal peace within today's self-defeatist society, can we allow the planet a chance to avoid self-destruction! Open your eyes, open your mouths, close your hands and make a fist.

The thing that makes this album better than Black Ice is how perfectly it flows. The band's decision to make a shorter record in duration, really pays off. Clocking at 35 minutes, the album is perfectly listenable no matter how stale or repetitive the music may sound like.

In my opinion this is a 3. I feel like the band was kinda lazy during the recording
sessions. It seems to me that most of the ideas here are recycled and i always expect sth
more from a band of their calibre. Also, Leif's voice caused me to facepalm a few times
during the intro of the last song. Candlemass needed a better swan song. Of course the album
isn't totally bad. The first four tracks are all very good songs.

Europe were one of the most popular bands in the 80's. The FC is a classic 80's pop/rock/gay metal album and it's their best effort. Despite the fact that Europe were not consistent they will be forever remembered for the title song.

DTE is a good Rock 'n' Roll commercial album but it can't be compared with their 3 previous releases. Graham Bonnet is suprisingly good but he ain't Ronnie. Roger Glover is a very useful addition and Ritchie delivers yet again some good guitar riffs.

Pantera sounded so different in their early days. Their debut (glam style) is rather poor with
stupid vocals, weird drumming and common bass lines. Guitar sounds ok and the solos are good. We
shouldn't forget that the founders of Pantera, Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Darrell, were inexperienced
and very young at that time, I think 19 and 17 respectively. The positive aspect of the album
however, is Dimebag who shows some early potential.